Film Editor
Salary

For Film Editors, bonuses and commissions account for a significant portion of income and add up to 222 percent of their $47K yearly pay. Career duration is the biggest factor affecting pay for this group, followed by geography. Making up 74 percent of those who took the survey, male Film Editors greatly outnumber their female counterparts. The majority of Film Editors claim high levels of job satisfaction. Just under a third of professionals in this line of work do not receive benefits; however, a majority report medical coverage and just under one-half claim dental coverage as well. The information for this rundown comes from respondents who completed PayScale's salary questionnaire.

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

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Job Description for Film Editor

A successful job applicant will transform film footage into a final product while utilizing sound effects, video, audio, music, and special effects. The applicant will participate in all aspects of taping and production, including potentially directing at times. Also, the applicant would shoot additional promotional videos that could potentially be used on air in the future.The environment for this position is fast-paced and deadline-driven, and the applicant must be able to think quickly on their feet. Professional evidence of this is definitely a plus. This position also requires the ability to use a camera in the studio and on photo shoots and to be able to put together a news story without the help of a producer. This position will answer to a production manager and will occasionally assist the rest of the staff with technical issues. Therefore, extremely good interpersonal and communication skills are a necessity in order to acquire this position.

In order to be eligible for this position, the applicant must have a bachelor's degree in film studies or a similar discipline. The applicant must be able to fully operate video editing software and be computer and technologically savvy. Regarding this, the applicant must be able to adapt to ever-changing technology. Problem solving and troubleshooting skills, as well as having a natural eye for error, are also a must. The overall position usually takes place indoors, but some outdoor exposure will occur when shooting on location. Normal hours are mornings through late evenings, but some overnight work is possible.

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Popular Skills for Film Editor

This chart shows the most popular skills for this job and what effect each skill has on pay.

Film Editors seem to require a number of specific skills. Most notably, facility with avid, Avid Media Composer, and Apple Final Cut Pro are correlated to pay that is significantly above average, leading to increases of 217 percent, 79 percent, and 30 percent, respectively. Skills that are correlated to lower pay, on the other hand, include Adobe After Effects and Adobe Photoshop. Most people familiar with Adobe After Effects also know Adobe Photoshop.

Pay by Experience Level for Film Editor

Median of all compensation (including tips, bonus, and overtime) by years of experience.

The average inexperienced worker earns $41K, and someone who has worked for five to 10 years can expect a bigger median salary of $63K. Professionals who spend a good 10 to 20 years in the workforce haul in an average of $141K. Film Editors who claim more than two decades of experience actually make somewhat smaller average paychecks of $125K.

Pay Difference by Location

Surpassing the national average by 198 percent, Film Editors in New York receive some of the highest pay in the country. Film Editors will also find cushy salaries in San Francisco (+44 percent) and Los Angeles (+18 percent).